I was pretty sure that Ros would be up for another year of the Cookie Recipe Advent Calendar. Why? Because if there’s one thing that Ros is good at – it’s taking on baking challenges! LOL. Just go visit her blog to see all the baking challenges she takes on.
But seriously, it takes a special kind of talent, not to mention a really creative mind, to come up with some of the awesome baked goods that she dreams up! Just check out these really fun gingerbread cookies!
guest post by Ros from The More Than Occasional Baker
Ros’ previous kitchen frolic cookie recipe advent calendar posts:
– 2013: chocolate orange and cranberry cookies
Hi! My name is Ros and I blog at The More Than Occasional Baker. I am really excited to be invited back to participate in Stephanie’s Cookie Advent Calendar. I had great fun last year and really enjoyed seeing the 24 festive cookie recipes. I only wish I could eat one everyday as you would with a chocolate advent calendar! I love baking and cookies are without doubt my favourite treats. I especially love Christmas and everything associated with Christmas. Last year, I had a brilliant idea for a cookie which I gave away as gifts and everyone loved them. They are a little time consuming to make but it’s definitely worth it especially when you see the look of surprise on your recipient’s face!
I’ve named it a Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cookie with a hidden surprise. It’s a pinata style cookie where you create layers of gingerbread cookies with the centre cut out and filled with candy. You can decorate it as I have with royal icing and sprinkles or for a personal touch, writing the recipient’s initial in icing. If you like making homemade Christmas gifts then this is definitely a good one. The gingerbread keeps well so you can make this in advance. I’ve posted this recipe previously on my blog if you want more detailed instructions. Do give it a go and please feel free to share your thoughts or ask any questions via my blog, twitter (@bakingaddict), Facebook (Thebakingaddict) or Pinterest.
- For the gingerbread
- 125g butter
- 110g dark brown sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 310g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 6 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons mixed spice
- 100-130 mls golden syrup
- For the royal icing
- 2 egg whites
- 400g icing sugar
- Preheat the oven to 160C.
- Beat butter, sugar and egg yolk in a bowl until smooth.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients until its mixed properly.
- You may need to add a little more golden syrup if the mixture is crumbly.
- Place dough in the fridge for 15-30 minutes.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface and roll it out to approximately 5mm in thickness.
- You will need 2 different sizes of the same shaped cookie cutter – I’ve used a christmas tree cutter here but you can also use a star cutter or any other Christmas shape.
- Cut out the trees using the large cookie cutter.
- Place on a baking tray and bake for approximately 7-9 minutes until they are brown.
- As soon as they are ready, remove from the oven and immediately re cut with the same large cookie cutter. The cookie may have expanded a little and this gives it a neater finish.
- Reserve 2 large trees for the top and bottom but cut out the middle with the smaller tree cutter of one of the cookies (this will form the middle layer).
- For each tree you will need 3 cookies – 2 ‘whole’ tress and 1 with the middle cut out.
- Beat ingredients together until smooth and glossy – you may need a bit more sugar or a few drops of water depending on the consistency required.
- Place a normal tree on a flat surface.
- Pipe royal icing on the underside of the tree with the middle cut out.
- Place this tree on top of the base tree and press firmly.
- Fill the cavity with candy – I’ve used mini M&M’s but smarties or skittles would work too.
- Pipe royal icing along the edges of the second tree and place the third ‘whole’ tree on top.
- Decorate with royal icing.
Check out the rest of the Cookie Recipe Advent Calendar here!
The content, recipe and all photos used in this blog post belong to Ros / The More Than Occasional Baker and were used with her permission. Please do not reprint any of the content in this post without her express permission.
Wow! My kids would kill for a piñata-style cookie! Like, literally, they might kill for it. As a result, I might just have to keep them all for myself.